AANP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AANP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A patient with an open femur fracture and blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg after trauma needs fluid resuscitation. What principle guides initial fluid management? → Permissive hypotension with 1:1:1 blood product transfusion
2. A perimenopausal woman reports hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Which first-line non-hormonal intervention can reduce vasomotor symptoms? → Low-dose SSRI/SNRI (e.g., paroxetine, venlafaxine)
3. A patient diagnosed with bipolar I disorder should be educated that untreated manic episodes last approximately how long? → 1–3 months without treatment
4. A unilateral, painful, vesicular rash following a dermatomal distribution in an elderly patient is most consistent with: → Herpes zoster (shingles)
5. The AUDIT-C questionnaire is used to screen for which behavioral health condition? → Hazardous or harmful alcohol use
6. A patient presents with confusion, fever, neck stiffness, and photophobia. Lumbar puncture is planned. Which action should precede the LP? → Obtain CT head to rule out mass effect if indicated, and do not delay antibiotics
7. According to USPSTF, depression screening is recommended for which population group? → All adults aged 18 and older, including pregnant and postpartum women
8. A patient presents with a deep laceration requiring irrigation. What is the recommended method to reduce infection risk? → High-pressure irrigation with normal saline
9. Which patient population is NOT typically within the scope of practice for an FNP? → None; FNPs care for patients across the lifespan
10. Which medication is FDA-approved as a first-line pharmacological treatment for PTSD? → Sertraline
11. In what setting do Acute Care Nurse Practitioners most often practice? → Intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments
12. A patient with darkening, velvety, hyperpigmented skin in the axillae and neck creases most likely has which underlying condition? → Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
13. A 58-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes has an HbA1c of 8.9%. Current treatment is metformin 1000 mg twice daily. Which is the most appropriate next step? → Add a GLP-1 receptor agonist
14. What is the primary focus of an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)? → Management of patients with acute, critical, and complex chronic conditions
15. What is the first-line treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in an otherwise healthy outpatient adult? → Azithromycin or doxycycline
16. A patient with fair skin has a pearly, translucent nodule with telangiectasias on the nose. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Basal cell carcinoma
17. A nurse practitioner prescribes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to a patient on methotrexate. What serious risk exists? → Bone marrow suppression and pancytopenia
18. A patient on lithium for bipolar disorder develops coarse tremor, confusion, and vomiting after starting a new NSAID. What is the most likely cause? → Lithium toxicity due to reduced renal clearance
19. A patient with schizophrenia is non-adherent to oral antipsychotics due to forgetfulness. What formulation would improve adherence? → Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic
20. Which screening tool is validated for detecting depression in the primary care setting? → PHQ-9
21. What is an important consideration when prescribing medications for older adults? → Age-related changes in drug metabolism
22. Which ECG finding indicates ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requiring emergent intervention? → New ST elevation ≥1 mm in two contiguous leads
23. Which certification is required for an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner? → Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certification
24. A patient reports a skin lesion that began as a papule and developed a central depression with umbilication. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Molluscum contagiosum
25. A patient taking warfarin begins a course of fluconazole. What is the expected interaction? → Increased INR due to CYP2C9 inhibition
26. Which topical medication is the treatment of choice for tinea pedis (athlete's foot)? → Topical clotrimazole or terbinafine
27. In a patient with suspected sepsis, what intervention should be initiated within the first hour per Surviving Sepsis guidelines? → Broad-spectrum antibiotics and 30 mL/kg IV crystalloid
28. A patient with known COPD presents with increased dyspnea, productive cough, and wheezing. Oxygen saturation is 88%. What is the appropriate oxygen target? → Maintain SpO2 at 88–92%
29. Which condition is characterized by salmon-colored patches in skin folds (axilla, groin) with fine scale that fluoresce coral-red under Wood's lamp? → Erythrasma
30. A woman reports galactorrhea and amenorrhea. What is the most important initial laboratory test? → Serum prolactin level